---
title: "Finding Dory: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/finding-dory/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/finding-dory"
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 31
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Finding Dory (2016): what the critics said

Critics' score 72 from 31 reviews: 23 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative.

Most critics like Finding Dory, and the reviews agree on why. The praise clusters around Dory herself: her memory loss is treated with care rather than as a running gag, and Ellen DeGeneres’s voice work is singled out again and again for its warmth. The animation is admired almost everywhere, particularly the underwater light and the aquarium sequences, and Hank the octopus is the new character most reviews mention, with Ed O’Neill’s performance credited for many of the laughs.

The reservations are consistent too. Nearly every review, including the warm ones, says the story runs close to Finding Nemo’s and lacks Pixar’s usual invention, and several fault an overlong or overblown ending. The spread is fairly narrow: most critics land between good and very good. The dissent comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which finds impatience outweighing enjoyment, and The Skinny, which calls the film sluggish and forgettable.

## Empire — Jimi Famurewa

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2016. 

Famurewa praises the film as a dazzling, emotionally rich return to form that avoids feeling like a retread. He especially singles out Dory’s intimate emotional journey and the inventive aquarium sequences.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/finding-dory-review/)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2016. 

The critic finds the sequel beautiful, rambunctious, and emotionally satisfying, saying it lives up to the original. He especially praises its dazzling underwater imagery and Dory’s newly deepened characterization.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/finding-dory-review-ellen-degeneres-albert-brooks-pixar-1201791897/)

## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2019. 

The review is strongly positive, finding the sequel full of heart and even smarter than its predecessor. It singles out the film’s emotional warmth and intelligence.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/finding-dory-review/)

## IndieWire — David Ehrlich

Rating B+. 10 June 2016. 

Ehrlich finds the sequel surprisingly satisfying and a compelling defense of sequels, despite its familiar scenery and lack of Pixar-level originality. He particularly praises its emotional exploration of feeling lost and the sense of connection that makes the ocean feel like home.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/finding-dory-review-pixar-1201687373/)

## Little White Lies — Anton Bitel

Rating 3/4/4. 1 July 2016. 

Bitel finds the sequel beautifully animated, fast-paced and funny, with an affirming message about overcoming adversity together. He singles out its pixel-perfect panoramas and plentiful gags, while noting a troubling portrayal of bullying toward a character with an intellectual disability.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/finding-dory)

## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab

Rating 4/5. 27 July 2016. 

Macnab calls it one of Pixar’s most charming films, praising its blend of whimsy, screwball humour and pathos. He singles out the witty dialogue and sound effects, while noting the story’s sentimentality and predictable ending.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/finding-dory-review-fishy-sequel-is-one-of-pixars-most-charming-films-yet-a7157881.html)

## Time Out — Anna King

Rating 4/5. 9 June 2016. 

The review says the sequel goes swimmingly for the most part, though its story falls short of Pixar’s usual invention. It singles out the film’s visual pleasures for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/finding-dory)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 

Sragow finds the follow-up poignant and playfully self-referential. He singles out its blend of emotional depth and self-aware humor for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-finding-dory/)

## Slant Magazine — Christopher Gray

Rating 3/4. 15 June 2016. 

Gray finds the sequel emotionally affecting despite its familiar stakes and formulaic journey. He praises how Dory’s empathy helps other characters overcome their doubts, alongside the film’s sensitive portrayal of her memory loss.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/finding-dory/)

## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd

Rating B-. 14 June 2016. 

Dowd finds the sequel pleasant but less transporting and inventive than its predecessor. He praises its photorealistic underwater visuals and recurring Alien-related jokes, while criticizing its confined setting and canned emotional arc.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/finding-dory-loses-some-magic-by-leaving-the-big-blue-s-1798188118)

## The New York Times — A.O. Scott

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. 

The review’s verdict is positive, though the sequel’s journey feels familiar. It singles out the film’s warmth and Ellen DeGeneres’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/movies/finding-dory-review-pixar.html)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2016. 

Edelstein finds the sequel less original and emotionally deep than Finding Nemo, but ultimately delightful and funny. He especially praises the escalating slapstick and the resourceful new character Hank.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/movie-review-finding-dory.html)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2016. 

O'Sullivan finds the sequel inferior to Finding Nemo but still pleasurable, with Dory's appeal carrying it. She praises Ellen DeGeneres's sensitive, nuanced voice performance, while noting that familiar gags and scenes rarely startle.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/finding-dory-review-nemos-best-pal-has-become-star-of-the-show-a3307396.html)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the sequel a safe but engaging lighthearted diversion for fans of the original. They praise its colorful, immersive world and engaging take on home and identity, despite a predictable script.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/finding-dory)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2016. 

The page identifies this as a review of the 2016 film, but the review text is behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be determined from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/finding-dory-review/5104687.article)

## The Guardian — Jordan Hoffman

Rating 3/5. 14 June 2016. 

Hoffman finds the sequel emotionally effective but repetitive, facile, and heavy-handed in its message. He praises Hank’s mesmerising animation and DeGeneres’s performance, while faulting the overblown ending.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/14/finding-dory-review-nemo-sequel-disability-ellen-de-generes)

## Total Film — Neil Smith

Rating 3/5. 17 June 2016. 

Smith finds the film enjoyable but clearly less successful than its predecessor, calling it a partial return to form. He praises its moments of visual beauty, especially the starry reflection in Dory’s eyes and the migrating manta rays.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/finding-dory-review/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. 

Turan finds the sequel only sporadically encouraging and ultimately a mid-range Pixar effort. He praises its undersea visuals and especially the entertaining sea creatures Dory encounters.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-finding-dory-review-20160613-snap-story.html)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2016. 

McCarthy finds the sequel rambunctious and passably humorous but far less inventive than its predecessor, with impatience outweighing enjoyment. He praises Hank the octopus’s funny physical antics and Ed O’Neill’s vocal performance as the film’s main source of laughs.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/finding-dory-film-review-901456/?facebook_20160610)

## Consequence — Allison Shoemaker

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2016. 

The critic finds the sequel delightful and emotionally resonant, even if it lacks the original’s surprises. She especially praises how it turns Dory’s memory loss into a strength, alongside its animation and tender message.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/06/film-review-finding-dory/)

## HeyUGuys

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 

The critic considers it one of Pixar’s best sequels and a brilliant film overall. They praise the emotional baby-Dory sequences, while finding the climactic freeway chase over the top.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/finding-dory-review/)

## Polygon — Julia Alexander

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. 

The review calls the sequel a worthy successor, emotionally rich and ultimately hopeful. It especially praises the tender flashbacks showing Dory’s parents helping her cope with memory loss.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/16/11947230/finding-dory-review/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. 

Hammond finds the sequel irresistible and expects it to please both children and parents. He particularly praises Ellen DeGeneres’s vocal performance and the humor provided by the scene-stealing octopus Hank.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2016/06/finding-dory-review-pixar-ellen-degeneres-finding-nemo-video-1201773876/)

## Den of Geek — Simon Brew

Rating 4/5. 29 July 2016. 

Brew finds the sequel enjoyable, though not as strong as Finding Nemo. He praises Dory’s positive portrayal of disability, the memorable characters, and the film’s stunning visuals, while noting that its story feels familiar.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/finding-dory-review-2/)

## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2016. 

Wilkinson finds the sequel emotionally effective and warmly entertaining, with Dory’s optimism at its heart. She praises its balance of sentiment, slapstick and visual gags, which keeps the story lively without eclipsing its characters.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/finding-dory-2016-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)

## /Film — Peter Sciretta

Rating 8/10. 17 June 2016. 

Sciretta finds the sequel emotionally rewarding and fun, though less successful overall than Finding Nemo. He praises the new sea lion characters and the film’s emotional humor, but faults its overlong ending.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/544763/finding-dory-review/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating B. 16 June 2016. 

Goldberg calls the sequel a heartwarming, funny, and worthy successor, though it falls short of Finding Nemo. He praises its endearing new characters and emotional treatment of mental health, while noting uneven pacing.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/finding-dory-review/)

## Paste — Michael Snydel

Rating 7.6/10. 17 June 2016. 

Snydel finds the sequel emotionally affecting and a worthwhile expansion of Dory’s story, despite chaotic plotting and some weak comic characters. He praises its honest treatment of loneliness and the challenges faced by Dory and her parents.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/finding-dory)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 71/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2016. 

The URL presents the film as a worthy successor to Finding Nemo. The article text is blocked, so its verdict and specific praise cannot be verified.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/finding-dory-sets-its-own-course-and-is-a-worthy-successor-to-finding-nemo-review-20160615/)

## Digital Spy

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2016. 

The critic finds the sequel brilliant and engaging despite a somewhat repetitive plot and heavy-handed moral messages. The dazzling action and Ed O’Neill’s performance as Hank stand out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a798499/finding-dory-review-is-the-nemo-sequel-fresh-or-fishy/)

## The Skinny — Tom Charles

Rating ★★. 15 July 2016. 

Charles finds the sequel sluggish and less sharp, smart, or funny than expected from Pixar. He praises its animation and emotional impact, though he finds the world less tactile and the film forgettable.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/finding-dory)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/finding-dory.md